Restretching carpet with Roberts mini stretcher?

[ACE]

I have a power stretcher but it is a PIA and not ideal for a one man operation. I was asking at the local carpet supply place about the bear claw. They said they had something else and showed me a mini stretcher that had a plate you can add that slips behind the tackless strip (in the gully). Will this work as well as the bear claw? It seems that you could only put so much force on the strip with ether the mini stretcher is the same price as bear claw and I could do allot more with it.

 

[sweendogg]

I guess someone forgot to tell me cause I've having no problem using a stretch by myself for almost 8 years.

 

[ACE]

I guess someone forgot to tell me cause I've having no problem using a stretch by myself for almost 8 years.

I end up having to use a deadman sometimes with a power stretcher because there is nothing sold to stretch off of (stairway, glass or mobile home walls) For restretching it seems that something the pulls towards instead of away might be allot more efficient.

 

[sweendogg]

Yeah I occassionally have to use a dead man with a couple kegs of glue to hold it down. I also have several different carpeted boards to stretch off to spread the weight stretch futher along the wall. In the trailer situation, the deadman is the best bet, but you come sometimes get away with an 8 ft carpeted four by four. That usually spread the weight acoss the limited joists enough to get it pretty tight. the glass/sliding doors, we either try to stretch to these doors off an opposing wall or if we have stretch from the window and I'm alone its a deadman. If I have a helper, I have some nifty tricks that involve the stair tool and some slight leverage. (you'll never catch me using a carpet spike.. besides voiding warranties..my grandfather would rise from the grave and with my own dad would put me in mine!) If the doors are short enough the 4x4 x 8 will span it and work well. On stairways with spindles, again we try to stretch to opposing walls, but the other tricks I mentioned can work. Great care must be taken with the four by four and if the spindles do not have any supports every 4-5 feet, we will use another method.

 

[ACE]

Yes, David I know allot of those tricks. A power stretcher is the best way to install carpets and one man can work it just fine if he thinks and takes his time. As a matter of practicality, I just don’t know if a power stretcher is the ideal tool for restretching carpet in most cases. For example I did an estimate today for someone putting their house on the market. They just want it to look good long enough to show the house for the best price and are taking other bids. I had a hard time after first taking Steve Andrews class. I was trying to apply CRI 105 standards where they where completely ignored during original installation (stuff like putting in a second row of tackless).

 

[Jack May]

Hey Mike,

I'm sure Harry will be along soon to answer your questions.

I have both, and also detest pulling out the power stretcher, but at the end of the day, you can't get much stretch on a mini.

The mini does have it's virtues though, it's great for small repair work, great for opening up seams, re doing joins etc.

Small REinstallations will also work ok but if you need any amount of stretch put into the carpet, forget it.

You'll also possibly have to take the time to re inforce the tackless so it's strong enough.

John

 

[sweendogg]

7.1 Tackstrip –Tackstrip should be a minimum of 1 inch (25 mm) wide and ¼ inch (6 mm) thick. Architectural strip with 3 rows of pins, or 2 rows of conventional strip, should be used for carpet with heavily-latexed backs, most woven and Berber style carpet, and any carpet in rooms exceeding 30 feet (9 m) in length or width. To prevent possible injury to building occupants, the pins on the tackstrip should not protrude through the carpet being installed.

This is straight from CRI 105

Granted all rules go out the window during repairs and restretches so you can make it look the best for a customer. And yes it can be a Real PIA to try to correct some hack installer's mistakes. But if you can the stretcher is still the best tool to stretch and restrech carpet with so long as its structually sound.

 

[John Watson]

I have both, no, I have all 3 tools, Power stretcher, Bher Claw and a roberts mini which is called a crab.

If you are just tightening the carpets then the Claw is a great tool. the Crab is best for repairs and with the double cotten heads a great seam streacher.

I used to use my crab on occasion instead of the streacher, but just for minor jobs or one where all they would pay was to make it look better.

I use the Behr claw on 95% of the tightning jobs we do. Great tool and you already have your power head so it should be a no brainer..

 

[Shorty]

Resurrected, how times change.

Sure do miss John & Helen Watson.

They would have had an orgasm over the TriForce.

 

[Mikey P]

I always figured he would stay active in the industry after retirement

 

[Kellie Hiler]

I was just going to recommend the tri-force. I'm going to be getting one because it is getting harder for me to handle the stretcher myself.

 

[Kellie Hiler]

Lol....just noticed this thread is 6 years old.

 

[Rick J]

Me too Kellie. I was going to mention the Tri-force as well!!!lol

 

[Kellie Hiler]

Great minds think alike! I see you are new here? Welcome!

 

[Charlie Lyman]

@Kellie I have the tri force. It is a great tool. If you get one you need to know that there is a learning curve. I still use my power stretcher, but the tri force helps a lot.

 

[Scott S.]

I was just going to recommend the tri-force. I'm going to be getting one because it is getting harder for me to handle the stretcher myself.

link for the tri-force?

 

[Charlie Lyman]

http://mikeysboard.com/threads/my-conclusion-and-opinion-of-the-tri-force-stretcher.268853/
@Kellie here is a thread about it

 

[Charlie Lyman]

http://3force.net

 

[Kellie Hiler]

Great thread Charlie! Thank you! I've actually got someone who is going to sell me his extra one so I'm pretty excited!!

 

[Scott S.]

ehh, i think i rather have the behr claws.

 

[Shorty]

ehh, i think i rather have the behr claws.

No comparison Scott.

Whereas the Behr Claw pulls from behind the smoothedge/tackdown, the TriForce uses the carpet to stretch into position.

Both do need the Roberts, or similar, stretcher unit.

I get a quicker, more uniform stretch with no risk of damage in case of any fixing problems with the smoothedge/tackstrip.

But, to each their own.

 

[Scott S.]

No comparison Scott.

Whereas the Behr Claw pulls from behind the smoothedge/tackdown, the TriForce uses the carpet to stretch into position.

Both do need the Roberts, or similar, stretcher unit.

I get a quicker, more uniform stretch with no risk of damage in case of any fixing problems with the smoothedge/tackstrip.

But, to each their own.

i just worry about over streatching that area betwwen the feet and the head. seems like alot of pressure for such a small area.

 

[Charlie Lyman]

i just worry about over streatching that area betwwen the feet and the head. seems like alot of pressure for such a small area.

It works good. I've been using mine for a long time with no problems. The bear claw will rip up the tac strips.

 

[Kellie Hiler]

Exactly why I would never use the Behr claw.

 

[handdi]

don't waste your money on one i bought one 8yrs ago i don't think we overused it
the tri force has its place long hallways etc
invest in a helper and advertise restretching more good money in it
have 2 power stretchers on big jobs
behr claw i think there is one of them in the garage too

 

[SamIam]

@Kellie I have the tri force. It is a great tool. If you get one you need to know that there is a learning curve. I still use my power stretcher, but the tri force helps a lot.

Ya it has its place but by no means a replacement for power stretcher.

 

[Kellie Hiler]

I will keep my stretcher obviously, for those huge areas, plus I have a set of extension poles. But if I can use the Triforce for the easy stretches it will make my life easier.
You just can never have enough tools.....

 

[Shorty]

To clarify, I initially bought my TriForce for MINOR stretches after WDR.

I'm now also out of WDR but still just do MINOR stretches as required.

Those jobs are nothing major & the TriForce fits the bill nicely.

IF I was doing stretches a lot, (& a bloody sight younger), then yes, the full size power stretcher would be in my kit.

I'm also now up for two knee replacements, so I'm slowing down a lot in the near future.

Depending on circumstances, I may end up doing leg stretches instead of carpet stretches.

& also maybe stretching the truth a bit (more than usual).

 

[Kellie Hiler]

No more knee kicking for you! This work sure is hard on our bodies. Between the tri-force and the Kneeless kicker it should at least alleviate some of the wear and tear of doing carpet repairs and stretches. They may not be suited for all jobs but if they even did half they'd be worth the money.
Sorry to hear about your knee replacement situation Shorty...

 

[Big Jim]

http://mikeysboard.com/threads/my-conclusion-and-opinion-of-the-tri-force-stretcher.268853/
@Kellie here is a thread about it

Hey Charlie, you said you had to "re-learn" and there was somewhat of a learning curve compared to the power stretcher. I'm thinking about picking one up, and would like to understand what the learning curve entails as it seems pretty straight forward. I checked their website and there is a newer model out. It seems pretty much the same; it just doesn't have the kneeling pad. Any other thoughts or feedback would be great.